Sprinkler



Patented Apr. 2, 1935 SPRINKLER Albert J. LoepsingenProvidence, R. I., assigner to General Fire Extinguisher Company, Providence, R. I., a, corporation of Delaware Application July 21, 1932, Serial No.. 623,746`

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in sprinklers. More especially it has to do with a sprinkler of the type which at normal temperatures remains closed and ata predetermined higher 5 temperature opens automatically for the discharge and distribution of a re extinguishing medium. The invention is herein disclosed in its application to a sprinkler employingl a charged frangible bulb as the heat responsive element but l the scope of the invention is not limited to this particular form of element.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a sprinkler which is simple to'make, easy to assemble and which will have definite char- 15 acteristics. `Among the objects is to provide a resilient strut whereby the maximum load imposed upon it can be definitely predetermined. Other, features reside in an improved 'waterway and a novel lock forholding the strut in valve 2o closing position. It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the ap-l pended claims whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the accompanying drawing:v

Figure 1 is an elevation, with portions in medial section, of a sprinkler embodying the present improvements;

Figure 2 is a plan on reduced scale taken as o line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an elevation in section as on line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevation in medial section through th valve and the resilient means of the strut; and

Figure 5 is a bottom plan of ione type of spring discs.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the sprinkler body or fram( I has a nozzle 2 exteriorly threaded for engagement with a supply line carrying uid under pressure, and a yoke 3 of channel cross section except at the upper portion which is of a T cross section to minimize interference with the water distribution. Mountr ed on the yoke at the top is a deflector 4.

The waterway 5 of the sprinkler is deemed a distinct improvement over those of the ring nozzle and the diaphragm types of sprinklers. This improved waterway is tapered from its inlet end 50 to the discharge orifice,- 4the latter being smaller in area than the customary openings of sprinklers heretofore used, because of which the total pressure imposed on the valve of the sprinkler by the held-back fluid is appreciably reduced. It has also 55 been established by numerous tests that there is less danger of clogging the tapered waterway than the `usual types. While it is recognized that the opening is smaller and therefore would not pass as large an object as mightbe forced through lthe openings in a diaphragm or a ring'nozzle, l

there is no liklihood of any such an object` being present in a sprinkler system. Sawdust, wood shavings and chips, cinders, sand, gravel, small stones, cotton waste, packing material, matches, and bits of melted lead, oord, etc. have been fed l0 into a supply line and readily discharged through the tapered waterway.

There is also a minor but nevertheless appreciable advantage of the tapered waterway which is due to the increase in velocity of flow of the issuing jet. The gradual reduction in cross section of the nozzle stream and its final discharge through the smaller opening gives it added speed yand when it strikes the deilectorl the turbulence is greater and the distribution more uniform than has heretofore been experienced.

Prior to discharge the il'uid in the nozzle is held back by a valve I which seats on a gold-plated metal gasket 'I provided on the valve seat. As herein shown this valve is a glass button but a 25 metal valve has been vand can be used as well. This valve is held to its seat by a strut comprising, in this showing, a frangible bulb 8 containing a charge which expands upon rise in temperature and at a predetermined degree completely shatters the bulb. The strut also comprises a novel resilient means which enables a predetermined and xed maximum load! to be placed on the valve.

This resilient means comprises a flanged cap 9 having a center hole 9a whose edge forms the lower seat for the bulb, and a series of spring discs, also provided with center holes, vand ring spacers, all housed within the cap. Referring particularly to Figure 4, there is an annular shoulder 9b on the inner face of the cap against which is placed a spring disc I0. 'I'his disc represents one form which has near its center hole Illa several depending projections I0b. Against these is placed a flat disc II with center hole IIa and next to the latter is a ring spacer I2 which lies at the outer edge of the disc close by the flange of cap 9. Then another disc II is positioned next to the large ring spacer followed by'a smaller ring spacer I 2' which has a stub stem orsleeve portion 50 I2'a that ts into the center hole IIa of the next flat disc II. In the particular form herein disclosed, there is provided another large ring spacer I2 and still 'another fiat disc I I, the latter being in contact with the glass button 6, but where a metal the bulb and also increase the desired resiliency of the discs.

Withthe resilient means assembled as shown in Figure 4, the button is placed on the valve seat gasket 1, the bulb on the cap and a'.v seat washer I3 on the upper end of the bulb. This washer has a suitable recess to receive the upper end of the bulb and a top opening formed to receive the short reduced end Ida of a compression pin I4. The latter extends through a bore in the top of the yoke and has one or more recessed portions Mb. With the parts arranged as described, pressure is applied on the top of the pin to force it downward through the yoke and this force is transmitted by the bulb and cap to the several spring discs.-

The load is applied by the cap through its internal shoulder 9b to the edge oi' the rst spring discs I and is then transmitted by the latter through its depending projections IIlb to the central portion of the next disk II. This in turn passes the load on through the large ring spacer I2 to the outer edge Vof the second disc. II. The

latter applies the load to the smaller ring spacer .I 2' which passes italong to the central portion of the next disc I I whose outer edge rests on the succeeding large ring spacer I2. The latter, as

vbefore stated may rest directly on a metal valve if one is employed but as shown here the load is iinally applied to one moredisc II and thence to the glass button 6 along a raisedrannular ridge 6a. on its upper surface which is substantially opposite the inner edge of the valve seat. As the pressure is increased the several discs assume the disposition seen in Figure 1 beingbent or cupped and acting as a series of resilient levers each of which either receives the load at its outer extremity and passes it along at its middle portion or receives the load centrally and passes it along through its edge.

Whenthe desired load has been imposed upon the resilient strut pressure is appliedV to the side walls 3a of the yoke to force the material thereof into the recessed portions IIb of the pin, (here shown as notches, but which might take the -form of a groove around the pin) thus locking the pin and yoke together. The upper end of the pin can nbw be cut off, the deector applied andthe up- -standing section 3b of the yoke spun over to clamp Likewise ifthe frame is hit accidentally, or even if it should stretch, and the distance between the top of the yoke and the valve is slightly increased, the spring discs compensate for such change and continue to hold the valve tightly on its seat.

When the sprinkler is subjected to a rise of temperature great enough to ei'ect shattering of the bulb, the spring discs snap back to their initial fiat shape and thus tend to drive the cap v'upon which the loading can be deposited are'the surfaces of the `bulb and the cap and-since the .former is completely shattered by the expansion of its charge, and since the cap is violently dlsplaced by the snap action of the housed discs, no concern need be had regarding this loading danger. l

The one-piece frame, the simplicity of the machine operations required to form 'the waterway, valve seat, the compression pin and its washer, the ability to make the cap and spring discs from sheet stock and the ease of assembling, all combine to reduce the initial cost of the sprinkler. And the provision ofa resilient strut which enables the maximum load. on the frangible bulb to be denitely limited avoids any undue strain on the bulb and insures a tight valve up to the limit of the load.

I claim:

1. An automatic sprinkler having a valve and means for holding the valve seated comprising a thermally responsive element; resilient discs interposed between said element and the valve; and a housingsurrounding said discs, having a. flange extending below theportion of largest diameter of the valve and of diameter as large as resilient discs superposed uponthe top of the valve; a housing for said discs having a flange extending below the portion of largest diameter of the valve; and a thermally responsive member mounted between said housing and the frame of the sprinkler. f

3. An automatic sprinkler having a body with a passageway therethrough; a frame extending `from the body; a -valve closing said passageway; and a resilient strut interposed between the frame and the valve comprising a thermally responsive element, a housingconstituting a seat for said element having a flange extending below the portion of largest diameter of the valve, and resilient means within said housing between it and the top of said valve.

.ALBERT J. LOEPSINGER. 

